Uchiha Yorin's words made Nagato… laugh.
"Hmph—heh—heh—HA—HAHAHAHAHAHA—!"
He laughed like he was the Uchiha.
In that laughter Yorin heard no joy—only rage and madness.
Listen closely and there was a thread of absurdity—and fear.
"So—you're not doing this just for world peace either, are you?"
Yorin raised his blades again. "You think—after all I've suffered, after how hard I've pushed—what I couldn't do, you can just say you'll do and it'll work? What does that make me—Uzumaki Nagato—some kind of clown?
"But Nagato—saving the world isn't a talent show. The saddest story doesn't 'win.'
"This self-moving, self-sacrifice of yours—that's a pathology."
The next instant, Nagato struck.
He'd heard enough.
These damn Uchiha—what do they think "noble sacrifice" is?!
—Shinra Tensei!
Angry or not, his battle choice was correct.
Reeling Yorin in with Banshō Ten'in and skewering him sounds nice—but in practice it's a bad play.
Never mind how hard the black rods hit—dragging a superlative close-quarters specialist right to you? That's brainless.
Better to blow him back with Shinra Tensei, then use Chibaku Tensei—pack the damn Uchiha into a stone coffin and finish it—
That should have worked.
The Sannin were holding off the Five Paths—but the Five Paths were also holding them. How's one little Chidori Sharp Spear supposed to crack a chakra singularity?
Victory should have been his—decisive, absolute—
should have been.
But—
But—
But—
Uchiha Yorin still had a trump.
Uzumaki Nagato is terrifying—peerless jutsu, the Rinnegan, a vow forged in the death of his dearest friend, a prophecy from the Great Toad Sage—everything marked him for greatness.
And Yorin could still beat him.
Like this:
Lightning Armor → both-hands Monster Strength → 25× output →
Uchiha Two-Sword Style: Thunder–Fire Sword Dance!!!
The price: all chakra burned, grievous self-harm, even shaving lifespan. Doesn't matter. Winning matters.
Chakra surged and focused; Yorin's aura soared, spiked, erupted; the twin blades' light swelled—flame and thunder that had only "coated" the steel a moment ago now became a towering flame greatsword in one hand and a thunder cleaver in the other.
Uchiha Yorin: "Nagato—FALL! Fall to my invincible art!!!"
Uzumaki Nagato: "NEVER!!"
In a heartbeat he felt it—the power in Yorin's finisher. His pupils pin-pricked; he scrambled for a counter.
Shinra Tensei?
No—won't repel this.
Then attack into it—Asura's weapons? No—petty tech won't beat this.
Preta Path absorption? It's a close-range, semi-physical strike—no pure chakra to eat.
Animal Path summons? They won't even buy half a second.
Substitution, Flicker—simple escapes? A top-tier Body Flicker + taijutsu freak like Yorin had locked every lane.
So… only that remains.
If Yorin will spend life, then so will Nagato.
Super—Shinra Tensei!
The same "wipe Konoha off the map" move from the legend.
This could match 25× Thunder–Fire Sword Dance—
No, not match—crush it.
Doubts or no, meanings or no—at this stage there was no room left for hesitation.
Use it. Live or die with this blow.
"Super—wait—"
He meant to. He didn't mind paying with life.
But the catch: Super Shinra Tensei requires pooling the power of all six Paths.
And Preta Path… had already been cut down, finished, and burned to ash by Yorin.
Meaning a full Super Shinra Tensei was impossible.
Even a partial double-layer Shinra Tensei might fail—
and the other five Paths were still pinned by the Sannin—
"Forget them—gather everything!"
If so, the Five Paths would certainly lose to the Sannin—and after the cast, Nagato himself would be drained, unable to fight. The intact Sannin would just collect the head. It would still be Nagato's loss.
But the string was already drawn. No time to think.
Then lose and lose—but at least obliterate the Uchiha that shook his resolve!
…
At Nagato's thought, the Five Paths broke for him—hard.
"BLOCK THEM!"
Of course the Sannin moved to bar the way.
For the sake of conscience (Jiraiya), of the clan's revival (Tsunade), and of research funds and materials (Orochimaru), the Legendary Sannin would blow the Five Paths to bits.
Sage Art: Goemon!!
The same Goemon—firestorm and gale jammed their advance; the under-armored Human Path hit the wall.
Animal Path had to drive its beast legion, tangling the three great sanctuaries' enforcers—mountainous summons crashed and roared.
Orochimaru: "You shall not pass!"
For the sake of funding, he went all in—personally blocked Asura Path, the long-range bruiser.
Asura, furious, let fly—head laser that once mangled Jinchūriki, rocket fists—the lot.
In the original, that combo knocked Jiraiya down—a dark punchline for a great man's end.
Against Orochimaru? Useless.
One Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique, one Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands—all of Asura's shots nullified. A wall of serpents caught the rocket fists—call it a small win. You have tech; I have sorcery.
Lastly—Tsunade.
Clawed halfway out of hemophobia, she engaged Naraka Path. Monster Strength + Heavenly Foot tamped down the support—job done.
The Sannin did everything they could—but one Path still slipped through—
Deva Path—Yahiko—broke around the flank and reached Nagato, pouring its share of chakra into him.
Dead or not, in the critical instant Yahiko still fought at Nagato's side.
Super Shinra Tensei didn't complete; with only one Path feeding him, it was at best a double Shinra Tensei.
No matter—standing with Yahiko filled Nagato with boundless confidence. In that moment he felt… omnipotent.
So—this is it!
25× Monster-Strength Lightning Armor · Thunder–Fire Sword Dance
VS
Double Shinra Tensei!!
Bond of brothers and the vow for peace vs. cold, ruthless efficiency—
The result: a column of flame and thunder that tore the so-called god's absolute field.
"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Uchiha Yorin: "So—gods bleed after all, Nagato."
Blood erupted.
The invincible Nagato—fell.